Electrical connecter



Feb. 14, 1.928. 1,659,463

T.B.ENTZ

ELECTRI CAL CONNECTER Filed Jan, 24, 1924 /7' I 72 %a?k6? iii nw'ggf BY f ATTORNEYS. I

Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,659,463 PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE B. ENTZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO GOULD STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA- 'IION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTER.

Application filed January 24, 1924. Serial No. 688,125.

My invention relates to electrical connecting ineans and particularly to such means for connecting the terminals of storage batteries. My invention has oneof its part-icular applications in connection with storage batteries for use in so-called farm lighting sets. It often happens that farmers or others who are not familiar with installing and connecting storage battery outfits get the batteries connected up in wrong relation and much damage often comes to the batteries by reason thereof.

I have devised a connector which makes it impossible to uialie such errors without mutilation or modification of the connector for the terminals of the battery.

hiiy invention will be better understood by reading the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 shows a plan view of two battery unite: with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on line 8-3 of Fig. 2 with the connector bolt omitted; Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a modification and Fig. 5 is a view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 with the con necter bolt omitted.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1, there are two battery units, 1 and 2. each pro vided with a negative and a positive terminal. 'llhe negative terminal 3 of unit 1 is connected with the positive terminal l of the unit- 2. The negative terminal 5 of the unit 2 is identical with the negative terminal 3 of the unit 1. and. the positive terminal 6 of the unit 1 is identical with, the terminal 4 of the unit 2. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the units 1 or 2 are connected in series. In the ordinary farm lighting installation there are several units and it is essential that the units should be properly connected in order that satisfactory results may be secured. To this end I have devised connectors 7., for connecting the positive and negative terminals of the units together. In the device shown the positive terminals are bifurcated or forked. The prongs 8 and 9 extend upwardly a suitable distance and are provided with registering openings or perforations 10 and 11.. One end of the connecter 7, is placed between the prongs 8 and 9 and is also provided with an opening or perforation 12 which registers with the openings 10 and 11. so that when the connector 7 is placed between the prongs, a connecting bolt 13 may be placed through the o Jenings, washers 14 and 15 placed thereon ant nuts 16 tightened thus securely connecting the connector with the terminal.

The negative terminals consist of a solid member 17 which is likewise provided with an opening. The other end of the connector 7 is bifurcated and the prongs 18 and 19 straddle the negative terminal 17 as shown in Fig. 1. These prongs are provided with openings which register with the opening in the terminal 17 and a connecting bolt 20 is placed through these registering openings and washers 21 and nuts 22 are placed thereon so as to firmly connect the connecter to the terminal.

It will he noted that the distance between the inside faces of the prongs 18 and 19 is less than the distance between the outside faces of the prongs 8 and 9 of the positive terminals, so that the bifurcated end of the connector cannot be placed astride the positive terminal. Also the thickness of the prongs 8 and 9 is much less than the distance between the prongs 18 and 19 so that if the bifurcated end of the connector should be placed so that one of the prongs 18 or 19 should come between the prongs 8 or 9 of the positive terminals, it would be necessary to mutilate or modify the bifurcated end of the connecter in order to get any kind of a secure connection. also the negative terminals are not bifurcated and neither is the other end of the connecter. so that it would be with some difiiculty that the" farmer might improperly connect the units.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown a modification wherein one end of the connecter 7" has the opening 12 therein nearer to the lower edge of the connector at that end than the opening through the prongs 18 and 19 are to the lower edge of the connector at the other end. Therefore, in addition to the difficulties of erroneous installation already pointed out, it will be noted that if the connecter 7 should be turned end for end as viewed in Fig. 4, it would be impossible to get the openings in the bifurcated end of the connector to register with the openings in the bifurcated positive terminal. Therefore, an erroneous connection of the. batteries would be thereby prevented.

This difference in distance of the openings from the edges of the connecter at its opposite ends may be secured by removing a portion of the connector as shown at 23 in Fig. i and correspondin ly modifying the positive terminal, or it might be done by any other suitable arrangement such as making the end of the connecter the same Width as the other part of the connector and making the opening at 1 suitable point oli center.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that my invention has many advantages resulting from tie simplicity of the construction of the connecters themselves and from the provision of in'iprovements whereby the erroneousconnection of the battery cells is positively prevented.

Many changes may be made in the details of the construction Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim: I

1. The combination inn storage battery of a plurality of bifurcated positive terminals, a plurality of negative terminals which are different from the positive terminals, members for connecting a positive and a negative terminal together, said members having one end adapted to fitinto the bifurcated positive terminals end the other end bifurcated to receive a negative terminal.

2. A connector for battery terminals having one plain perforated end and e bifurcated perforated end, said connector being eds sted to be bodily removed and connect terminals of different pol H-Uyonly. connecter for battery te inals different polarities having one plain perferated end and a bifurcated perforated end, the thickness of the plain end beii less than the distance between the inside faces of the end, said connector prongs on the bi furcsted being adapted to be bodily removed ancto connect such terminals only in one Way.

Ti-Inono'nn EI'ITZ. 

